As expected the Braves offense was shut down by Roy Halladay, who went through the first 11 batters he faced tonight in order. The Braves got some hits after that, but never put enough together to score any runs. Their best chance came in the seventh when the Braves loaded the bases with one out. Yunel Escobar then grounded into a tough-luck double play as the ball ricocheted off the mound right to the Phillies second baseman.
Tim Hudson pitched really well, and on any normal night it would likely have been good enough for the victory, but not when Uncle Roy is on the mound opposite you. There's really not much more to say about the game. Roy Halladay was just his usual self. He made pitching look pretty easy against the Braves. Not much we can do but tip our caps.
As a side note, the Braves bullpen continues its awesomeness. Jonny Venters pitched two brilliant innings in relief of Hudson, and Takashi Saito had a good inning. Hey, I'm just trying to find positives from this game.
The Braves have just 2 runs off opposing starters over the last four games.
0 recs | 109 comments
Dave O'Brien and Rick Sutcliffe are morons
the end.
Scott Coleman - April 21, 2010
+22
Watching them, I couldn’t tell if they or Miller/Morgan were worse.
TonyAlmeyda - April 21, 2010
I agree
those two guys just would not shut up about Heyward. You would think he was the best thing since sliced bread.
homerlanding - April 21, 2010
Kind of impossible since he invented sliced bread.
kreese555 - April 21, 2010
In a battle between JHey and Chuck Norris...
J-Hey would win!!!
HereComesBream - April 21, 2010 via mobile
He is
sliced bread is disgusting unless it has a piece of beef squeezed in the middle!
HereComesBream - April 21, 2010 via mobile
twss
kreese555 - April 21, 2010
glad you guys are noticing this too.
Wet Luzinski - April 21, 2010
You’d think pitching in the majors would make one relatively knowledgeable about the game of baseball.
Except, in Sutcliffe’s case, it didn’t.
UMDBHIK - April 21, 2010
Wow
I can’t really say if I’m dissapointed or not. Yes, that 7th(?) or whatever where Esco just failed was dissapoining, but it seems that we were flat out overmatched. It happens. Too bad it screwed up my fantasy week and now I’m gonna get hell from my Yankee friends. I’m pretty sure we’ll rebound just fine tomorrow.
Oh and btw, finally getting around to NAHWAL. expect it in about 15 or so.
GoBravesNY - April 21, 2010
Our offense sucked! Our pitching was fine tho.
HereComesBream - April 21, 2010 via mobile
Our pitching was more than fine.
It was GRREEEATTT!
EyePod - April 22, 2010
obligatory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDzAaUcoaks
royhobbs - April 22, 2010
I'm of the mindset that we had a bit of a moral victory tonight.
I mean, we were supposed to get shutout. But we weren’t supposed to hold their vaunted offense to 2 runs, and it took everything they had (web gems aplenty) to hold us to a shut out. We hit the ball extremely well given the circumstances, and are one bad hop and a play by Victorino away from either tying or taking the lead. So, yeah we lost. But I think we paint tomorrow and take the series, which is all you can ask for. Especially given that Doc was pitching. GO Braves!
kreese555 - April 21, 2010
yeah, i’m wondering how many points i’m gonna lose tonight…
Bravely going forward - April 21, 2010
I always have one guy who has a bad start. This week it was Porcello. Now I need Lincecum to do the same for any hope this week
GoBravesNY - April 21, 2010
oh, that’s funny. i have porcello too, actually. i have him, tommy, clayton kershaw and david price, along with tim hudson. i know it’s not halladay/lincecum/sabathia, but i really dig my guys.
Bravely going forward - April 21, 2010
Just dropped porcello. Picked up Liriano instead. I’m too fed up with one bad start. In an all pitchers league I drafted lincecum, josh Johnson, Tommy, jj, and Soria as the guys to count on and I’m somehow in last in my division
GoBravesNY - April 21, 2010 via mobile
15, 30- its all the same. Both NAHWALs are scored
GoBravesNY - April 21, 2010
Tomorrow's game should be interesting...
Derek Lowe brings the offense. I’m feeling an 8-6 like game in the future after this pitch-fest.
fphjr01 - April 21, 2010
+1
Smoltz's Beard - April 21, 2010
jamie moyer lifetime vs. braves
14 GS, 4-9, 5.49 ERA
atl192485 - April 21, 2010
I wanna go to sleep but Anerican Idol isn’t over yet… Snore.
HereComesBream - April 21, 2010 via mobile
Back to Idol: Mary J Blige singing Stairway to Heaven? What the fruit cups?
HereComesBream - April 21, 2010 via mobile
You know, if all you Idol-ers just quit watching that silliness, it will go away. Seriously.
J-Freak - April 21, 2010
Crystal Bowesox is worth every Adam Lambert that we have to endure.
That girl is pure talent. She is the second coming of Janis Joplin!
justincredubil02 - April 21, 2010
She is pretty dang good. i’m impressed with her every week. I kinda hope she doesn’t win, simply because it seems to be the ones that don’t win that do better, career-wise.
10-4 - April 22, 2010
this
Skyagusta - April 22, 2010
Man
Man you just have to tip your cap to Halliday,dude was on his game.Hudson didn’t pitch bad,if he pitches like that all year he’ll be alright.We just ran into good pitching tonight that’s all.Don’t blame the bats for this one.
BravesMania - April 21, 2010
This one was hard to watch, personally. I was really bummed after that seventh inning opportunity evaporated.
However, I liked watching Johnny Venters pitch for the first time; he’s got two scoreless outings already.
TonyAlmeyda - April 21, 2010
That's 2 more than JJTICB isn't it?
kreese555 - April 21, 2010
You talking about Jo-Jo Reyes?
What’s JJTICB?
TonyAlmeyda - April 21, 2010
It's a Seinfeld reference, but yes. It stands for JoJo the Idiot Circus Boy
kreese555 - April 21, 2010
+1
Seinfeld FTW
J-Freak - April 21, 2010
Then yes, you’re correct.
TonyAlmeyda - April 21, 2010
I’m not mad. Halladay pitched a helluva game. Now I’m watching the Solid 60 on MLBN. Didn’t know it, but they’re on for an hour with no commercials.
BullManUGA - April 21, 2010
I’m actually a little concerned about Yunel not hustling down the line. It’s become the norm for him to not even attempt to run out most ground balls, and he’s way too important for his head to be in the wrong place.
Bravely going forward - April 21, 2010
btw, i wasn’t gonna say anything until DOB mentioned after the game that multiple guys in the clubhouse agreed
Bravely going forward - April 21, 2010
That was definitely worth getting pissed off over – Glaus busts his ass to beat out the DP against the Rox, and on his game-ending chopper tonight, but Yunel can’t even hustle on an RBI chance?
justincredubil02 - April 21, 2010
No sir, I don't like it.
Bravely going forward - April 21, 2010
Wow.
I havent even thought of Ren and Stimpy in yeeeeears.
!Vive la Francoeur! - April 22, 2010
You could tell Yunel was upset that Utley made the play, not that i’m making excuses for not hustling. They even showed him after the play pointing to the sky as in "Why God Why? I’m sure he was frustrated as all getout that he put a good swing on the ball only to have it ricochet into Chase’s glove. That may have dampered his hustling spirits.
10-4 - April 22, 2010
It was more of throwing his hands up in the air
while laughing. If he hustles, it’s a non-issue because he’s on first. You make your own luck, and if he runs that one out, he lucks into an RBI with Utley bobbling the ball and not being able to turn the double play.
hailtogeorgia - April 22, 2010
Bowman also mentioned it in his game write-up.
10-4 - April 22, 2010
Bobby will yank him out of the game like he did to Andruw way back when.
BullManUGA - April 21, 2010
i don’t know if it’s quite that bad, i just want to see him give 100% on offense the way he gives 110% in every other aspect of the game
Bravely going forward - April 21, 2010
Bobby yanks him out of the game more often than you think. It does nothing to him. He just ignores it and goes back out there and do the same thing he has been doing. Escobar is who he is. Can not change him.
romone_braves91 - April 22, 2010
If I remember correctly, he seemed to learn his lesson last year. Didn’t he go 75 games with just an error or 2, and finish the season at .299 after Bobby sat him for not hustling. Eventually he will get his shit together, maybe because Cox pulls him, maybe because somebody talks to him, maybe because Chipper and McCann call one of their famous closed door meetings. One thing certain, Esco is not a .200 hitter, he’ll work that out.
bighop - April 22, 2010
you know
i love Yunel sometimes like when he makes those amazing defensive plays. However, he does show a lack of focus a lot of times like not hustling down the line and such and it gets old after awhile and really makes me want to get rid of him.
Of course now because i wrote this he will have an amazing weekend of games
drumzalicious - April 22, 2010
Remember last year Bobby benched him for just this.
I could tell from what little Bobby did say about the benching that he was fed up with him. I feel Bobby has him on a short leash, and would not be surprised if he puts his a$$ on the bench again this year. He drives Chipper nuts also…..
HEYJUDE - April 22, 2010
im beyond benching him
just send him to the minors lol
drumzalicious - April 22, 2010
Agreed.
It’s something that warrants more than getting a little concerned about, though. This isn’t the first time he’s done something like this, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. At some point, the guy has to mature enough to understand that you hustle down the line in every situation.
What gets to me even more about him not hustling this time, though, is the situation surrounding him not hustling. Down by two runs against the Phillies’ ace, bases loaded with one out in the seventh…this is undoubtedly the best chance you’re going to have to score all night. If you hustle down the line, you give yourself a chance to beat the double play and knock in a run. You keep the inning going and then have men on first and third with two outs and a chance to tie. If you don’t hustle…you have none of this. I realize that Yunel’s a top-tier shortstop, but he’s lazy on the base paths. Do we need to get Cadahia to tell him before every at bat to make sure he runs all the way through first base? This is pony-league kind of stuff.
hailtogeorgia - April 22, 2010
Halladay is gooooooood. I'm going to be really sick of him by the end of this season
was385 - April 21, 2010
I’m already sick of him.
UMDBHIK - April 21, 2010
I think we hit the ball hard, and just missed a couple opportunities.
Call it the homer in me, but we see him a couple more times and I think we score some runs on him.
kreese555 - April 21, 2010
+1
Braves Biceps - April 21, 2010
Completely agree. Seems like everyone got some good swings on the ball tonight. Some bad luck and most of all the Phillies played outstanding defense from start to finish. Lots of good defense by both sides tonight.
Sir Stealth - April 21, 2010
Yeah, all things considered I think the game actually went fairly well.
Smoltz's Beard - April 22, 2010
So this is what it's like...
to see a team lose and their fan NOT bash their team, AVOID profanity, and give CREDIT to a quality opponent to retain their DIGNITY.
Hmmmm…
Wish I could’ve seen it yesterday.
Wren_and_Stimpy - April 21, 2010
That’s what we do on Talking Chop.
Scott Coleman - April 21, 2010 via mobile
+1
Wren_and_Stimpy - April 21, 2010
Ok, I've decided I might not be the bad luck guy...
I watched last night’s game, and the Braves had that miraculous come from behind win (after my efforts of pretending to be a Phillies fan to jinx them). I did not get to see tonight’s game, and the Braves lost. :(
Record when I watch: 5-4
Record when I don’t watch: 3-2
Then again, there could be no correlation at all. Sample sizes are still too small, damn’t! :-p
EricGreggWasPaidOff - April 21, 2010
I said this in the gamethread, but I will repeat it: Roy pitched a great game, they played some fantastic defense, and they got a couple of lucky bounces – and beat us 2-0. I am fine with that.
justincredubil02 - April 21, 2010
+1
yes sir.
get swoll yunel - April 22, 2010
You can not win them all.
romone_braves91 - April 22, 2010
The Braves will probably lose between 60 and 75 games, a 2-0 loss to Halladay is no big deal, now go win the series.
bighop - April 22, 2010
It will be nice to see us score some runs early in the game tho against the opposing starter. i’m not just talking bout this game of course cuz its not secret Halladay is awesome. i think we’ve faced all-around awesome pitching these first two weeks. hopefully that offense that we all know is there is bout to burst out…
ATLBRVS_19 - April 21, 2010
Question
Does anyone else get really annoyed by the “phlyin Hawaiian” as I do. He just gets under my skin with some of his behaviors. Him and “J-Roll” are just the only ones on the phillies I can’t stand. Is it bad I was happy when Jimmy was no longer in the lineup?
ChipperForManager - April 21, 2010 via mobile
Shane Victorino is the biggest douche I’d love to have on my team
GoBravesNY - April 21, 2010 via mobile
I remember in 08 when we had all those injuries. Chipper was out and Victorino collided with Mac. It was awful, he gave him a concussion. I wanted to punch Victorino and ever since then I’ve hated him.
HereComesBream - April 22, 2010
i think i know what you mean
Bravely going forward - April 21, 2010
Racist IMO
BeantownVol - April 22, 2010
; )
jk
BeantownVol - April 22, 2010
Tip of the cap
Halladay was sick again tonight. I, like everyone else here, absolutely hates to see our team lose but sometimes you just run into a guy like that. Friends were shocked when I made the outlandish prediction that I would actually be surprised if Halladay doesn’t win 20 games this year. So far so good for that prediction.
ON THE VERY BRIGHT SIDE, Joe Morgan took a job with the Reds if it hasn’t already been mentioned. Thank god there will be no more of his inept broadcasting.
MTSU11 - April 21, 2010
Sorry to disappoint you but it will not get in the way of his ESPN duties. I’m sure Joe thinks he has far to much knowledge left to impart on us all to quit now.
FitzFan - April 22, 2010
Semi-interesting observation
I’m in no way saying Ol Roy and Tim Hudson are comparable pitchers, but comparing their career stats makes for an interesting thought exercise.
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/Players/H/Roy-Halladay.shtml
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/H/Tim-Hudson.shtml
Although Timmy is two years older, they’ve both pitched in almost the exact same amount of games, they have virtually identical win and loss totals, ERA, IP, strikeouts (Roy’s got a 95K edge), and WHIP.
Roy’s clearly been more dominant the last several years and has been more consistently dominant over the course of his career, but their numbers stack up pretty favorably, even though Roy has a slight, though detectable edge on several of the vitals. It’s not worth a lot, but I am somewhat impressed/amused at the similarity between the two career numbers and it gives me another reason to like Hudson.
Steinmanberg7 - April 22, 2010
Tim Hudson is vastly underrated – even by Braves fans.
justincredubil02 - April 22, 2010
Huddy is a classy baseball player on and off the field. I love the guy.
HEYJUDE - April 22, 2010
He was legit back in the early 00s for the A’s, if he had been able to sustain that sort of performance the same way Halladay has (and in Halladay’s case he even improved) then Hudson would definitely be thought of in the same light.
No knock on Hudson, still a great pitcher, but I feel like the fact that he’s underrated is due to the fact that he’s been unable to recreate that level of success. Here’s hoping this is the year.
Smoltz's Beard - April 22, 2010
He struggled coming to the NL for a bit, and then the injuries got him. I think he has a big year this year though.
justincredubil02 - April 22, 2010
So I didn't see the game at all
But from what I gather, the game was the following:
-Roy Halladay being Roy Halladay, which is naturally a CG/SHO
-Tim Hudson pitching excellently, but when your opponent is Halladay, there’s little you can really do being down 1-0 and 2-0 all night long
-Jonny Venters with another impressive multi-inning relief appearance
-Saito with another impressive relief appearance
Honestly, yeah, a loss stinks, but can’t say I’m surprised by the result. Losing to one of the best pitchers in baseball is nothing to be ashamed of, and it looks like our own pitching was superb all night long, as well. Just didn’t put any runs on the board.
royhobbs - April 22, 2010
Yunel didn’t even try to run hard after Utley made a diving stop on his line drive up the middle. I’m kinda surprised Bobby didn’t pull him.
Scott Coleman - April 22, 2010 via mobile
Just missed some runs by inches though. Once on a robbed HR that Glaus hit and once on a grounder up the middle that bounced off the mound directly to the 2nd baseman. Frustrating.
eavchuck - April 22, 2010
+1
don’t want to take anything away from Roy, but they played some impressive D …
FrankyWren - April 22, 2010
Howard had a bunch of slick plays too.
Smoltz's Beard - April 22, 2010
defensive
Bad announcing or not, games on ESPN mean I can watch a Braves game. Unfortunately, I didn’t get home until the 8th. Even from what I saw, the Phillies played some outstanding defense. You just have to tip your cap to them this time around.
I didn’t see Escobar’s slumber down the line, though. That would have most definitely aggravated me.
hollerin' brave - April 22, 2010
We didn't do too bad
Chipper got on twice Hinske got on and J Hay got the 1st walk out of Halladay in 26 innings and our pitching was pretty Damned good. That long ball just short by Glaus was heartening as well, all in all the only thing really wrong was we lost to,as Smoltz said , “the best pitcher in the game.”
jimmontg - April 22, 2010
Open Thread Comments Count: 2,030
Not too shabby on a night with NBA and NHL games on, not to mention a game that went by quickly with Huddy and Halladay on the mound.
Scott Coleman - April 22, 2010
Yeah, that would not affect me at all.
10-4 - April 22, 2010
It was a fast game, wasn't it?
Was over in time to catch the episode of South Park 201.
jimmontg - April 22, 2010
Halladay is awesome. Tip of the hat to him and the Phillies for some excellent defensive work last night as well. We didn’t catch any breaks but after some of the wins we’ve been getting this year I’m not too disappointed. D-Lowe needs to pitch a solid game tonight and we need to get some runs off of Moyer early. Go Braves!
JadedMayberry - April 22, 2010
Is it just me?
I’ll give in to the fact that the Braves have run up against some great pitching performances, but they are one lucky swing from being shutout three times in a row. 3 shutouts in 14 games is something to be concerned over, I don’t care who is pitching. Unlucky bounces, great defensive plays, bla bla bla – all of those are excuses to me. This team is struggling to score runs in almost every game – there are 3 major holes of the 8 regulars. Heyward has 25% of the runs batted in, so what is going to happen to the team’s record as soon as teams stop pitching to him and make others do the cleanup work?
On the bright side, if this team can win 92 games getting shut out every 4th time out, just think how many they’ll win scoring runs consistently. Like i said, I’ll give in to running into a couple buzzsaw pitching performances. But last I checked each of those pitchers have only one shutout and only one is a perennial CY candidate, and it’s not Kyle Kendrick. We’re almost a month in, so before too long we will have to accept what this lineup can bring to the table and right now (and until Yunel gets on track) the Braves have only four capable run producers. I’m still confident they will get on track, but the benefit of the doubt is quickly fading for me. How do others feel? Am I reading into the slow start from so much of the lineup TOO much?
CharlotteChop - April 22, 2010
I've been thinking the same thing
The Braves just aren’t scoring on starters right now (when Lowe isn’t pitching), and that does have me a little concerned. If you look at last night, balls were hit hard and just didn’t result in hits. Batting averages on the season are terrible for several players who will eventually bring them to more normal levels. Should really be able to put some wins together when that happens. Until then, if they can remain at or over .500, I’m thrilled.
Southern IN Chopper - April 22, 2010
I think you’ll find that most people on here will disagree with the majority of what you just said.
Smoltz's Beard - April 22, 2010
I understand how you feel
It is very early into the season, but the long stretches we’re we can’t get anything at all going are starting to worry me a bit. I’ll take the last minute wins, but we are a hair’s width away being under .500 by a couple games. Not that record matters at all this early into the season. I’m just hoping the rest of our bats start heating up fairly soon.
Skyagusta - April 22, 2010
Fair enough and it’s why I asked others’ opinion. But where am I so far off base. It’s not the #s of shutouts, the percentage of RBIs Heyward to the rest of the team. It’s not that the team scored 25% of its total runs on opening day and it’s not that five players who have had significant playing time are still hitting below .200.
CharlotteChop - April 22, 2010
Do you really expect those 5 players to continue hit below .200
that Heyward will continue to factor so much into RBI production, and the Braves will continue to struggle so mightily against starting pitching?
If so…well I don’t know what to tell you. The Braves have had one of the tougher schedule’s so far in the NL so if they come out of this month with around a .500 record, no matter how it is accomplished, it is actually a good thing.
I would be concerned if this continues through May because Atlanta will be facing some…less than stellar opponents most of the month.
DogDaysofSummer - April 22, 2010
No, I don’t feel like that. “I’m still confident they will get on track, but the benefit of the doubt is quickly fading for me.” I will stop whining until they get into a more manageable portion of their schedule. I guess the majority of my frustration comes from the fact that I know this team is going to contend – so struggling so mightily to hit against these better teams frustrates me -but maybe I should have expected it. I am being a worry-wort, I know. It’s only April.
CharlotteChop - April 22, 2010
FYF and I'll-Cost-Ya
Per AA:
Sounds about right.
Smoltz's Beard - April 22, 2010
And Braves nation moves to the edge of it's seat
And breathes a sigh of relief.
http://i0006.photobucket.com/albums/0006/findstuff22/Best%20Images/Funny/doggyFAIL1.jpg
BeantownVol - April 22, 2010
<img src="hhttp://i0006.photobucket.com/albums/0006/findstuff22/Best%20Images/Funny/doggyFAIL1.jpg"/>
BeantownVol - April 22, 2010
I fail at life.
BeantownVol - April 22, 2010
Lemme see if I can help… :-)
NCChopper - April 22, 2010
lol
royhobbs - April 22, 2010
Like predicting the sun rises in the east
Mr. Sanchez - April 22, 2010
We need Halladay. Too bad we can’t afford him. The Phils must be paying him truckloads of money.
HereComesBream - April 22, 2010
$20 million a year. I am not sure he is worth that much considering he only plays 35-37 games a year.
romone_braves91 - April 22, 2010
We don't need him.
We have great pitching depth.
HEYJUDE - April 22, 2010
Tough loss - especially when were so close to scoring late.
(Yunel would be fined if I were the manager for not hustling down the line)
We still can take the Series with a win tonight – and go on to do the same to the Mutts taking the lead in the NL East with us. :-)
NCChopper - April 22, 2010
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